Fox News secured a significant legal victory in its ongoing defamation battle with voting technology company Smartmatic. A New York appeals court ruled Tuesday that the network is entitled to receive internal documents related to a federal bribery case involving Smartmatic executives — a reversal of a lower court’s previous decision.
Fox News argues the documents, linked to a Justice Department indictment of three current and former Smartmatic executives, are vital to its defense. The executives are accused of paying over $1 million in bribes to win a contract in the Philippines. All have pleaded not guilty, and Smartmatic denies any wrongdoing.
Smartmatic sued Fox News and its parent company in 2021, claiming that the network’s false coverage after the 2020 presidential election severely damaged its reputation. The lawsuit focuses on Fox’s promotion of debunked claims that Smartmatic machines helped rig the election against Donald Trump.
Fox, however, maintains that any damage to Smartmatic’s reputation stems from its foreign business controversies — not its reporting. “We are pleased with the Court’s ruling that materials about Smartmatic executives’ indictments are ‘plainly relevant’ to its lack of damages,” Fox said in a statement. “The evidence shows that Smartmatic’s business and reputation were suffering well before the 2020 election coverage.”
The case raises larger questions about press freedom, with Fox attorneys arguing that the network was reporting on claims made by Trump’s legal team and therefore protected under the First Amendment.
Smartmatic, seeking $2.7 billion in damages, says Fox News knowingly spread falsehoods and directly caused the company’s financial harm. The case follows Fox’s 2023 settlement with Dominion Voting Systems for $787 million over similar election-related falsehoods. Meanwhile, Newsmax, another conservative outlet, settled with Smartmatic last year for $40 million.
Both Fox and Smartmatic have asked the judge to rule in their favor without a jury trial. If those motions are denied and no settlement is reached, the case could go to trial by 2026.
